Clip for securing an article to a table



y 1963 w. L. PERUSSE 3,089,211

CLIP FOR SECURING AN ARTICLE TO A TABLE Filed June 19, 1961 III rl W /4//// l I l l l IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Ma 14, 1963 4., 3,039,211 CLIP FOR SECURING AN ARTICLE TO A TABLE Walter L. Perusse, 911 S. 7th St, De Kalb, Ill.

Filed June 19, 1961, Ser. No. 118,070 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-259) This invention relates to a novel clip construction for detachably securing an article to the top of a table of the type having a laterally extending marginal edge. More specifically, my novel clip construction is especially constructed and arranged for detachably securing a table cloth, of textile, paper, or suitable plastic material, to the top of a picnic table, barbecue table, or the like, so as to prevent the cloth from being blown off of or disarranged with respect to the table, and also to prevent disarrangement of the cloth by body contact therewith. Securement of the cloth to the table top precludes the cloth from being blown into contact with foods on the table, or from knocking over articles supported on the table. The novel clip construction is also adapted for detachably securing a childs dish in place on the top of the table for precluding the dish and food therein from being tipped over or pushed olf of the table.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel clip construction of the character indicated, formed of a strip of resilient material, and comprising a pair of co-operating legs for embracing the marginal edge of a table top with the cloth in position thereon.

Another object is to provide a novel clip construction of the character indicated which provides firm spring pressure contact with the table cloth against the table over a substantial area for precluding the cloth from being blown olf of or inadvertently disarranged with respect to the table.

Still another object is to provide a novel clip construction of the character indicated which is capable of use in connection with table tops of various thicknesses.

A further object is to provide a novel clip construction of the character indicated which is simple in design, extremely economical to manufacture, and which is durable and elfective in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a table top with a cloth thereon provided with clips embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated at line 22 on FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and showing the clip in position on a table top of increased thickness;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the table top showing the novel clip positioned for detachably securing a dish in position on the table top;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the clip construction embodying the present invention.

As may be seen in the drawing, my novel clip, as represented by the reference numeral 10, is formed from an elongated strip of resilient metal. It is to be understood, of course, that the clip may be formed of various other materials having suitable resilient characteristics. The strip of metal is bent so as to provide an upper leg 11, which is substantially straight and flat throughout its length, and a lower leg 12 spaced apart from and disposed at an acute angle to the upper leg, and the legs 11 and 12 being interconnected by a relatively straight and flat intermediate leg 14. As may be seen in the drawing, both the upper and lower legs 11 and 12 are positioned at acute angles with respect to the intermediate leg 14.

, Wardly, as seen in the drawing.

For convenience in placement of the clip in operative position, the free terminal end 15 of the upper legll is slightly bent in an upwardly direction, and the free terminal portion 16 of the lower leg 12 is bent down- The connection between the terminal portion 16 and the lower leg 12 provides a rounded or curved contact area, as indicated at 17.

As seen in the drawing, a table cloth, as indicated at 20, which may be either textile or paper or suitable plastic material, is positioned on top of the table top 21, and if the cloth is of sufficient size to extend beyond the marginal edges of the table itself, the marginal portion preferably is trained closely around the outer edge of the table top, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawing. A suitable number of clips 10, depending upon the size of the table and cloth, are utilized for firmly but detachably securing the cloth in position on the table top. The clips are placed in embracing relation to the marginal edge of the table top with the cloth thereon, as seen in FIGURE 2, with the upper leg 11 resting fiat upon the table cloth; and with the rounded portion 17 of the lower leg engaging the under surface of the table top. In instances where the cloth is of sufficient size to be trained completely around the edge of the table itself, the rounded portion 17, in operative position, also engages the table cloth, so as to firmly secure the cloth in place on the table top. By virtue of the construction of the clip, the intermediate leg 14 is caused to be positioned in close proximity to the vertical surface of the outer edge of the table top, as seen in FIG- URE 2 of the drawing. Because of this arrangement, and the relationship of substantially the entire portion of the upper leg 11, the clip, when in operative position, does not constitute an obstruction which would interfere in any manner or cause inconvenience of the full and complete use of the table top. The clip in operative position is not apt to be inadvertently displaced or dislodged from operative position by body contact.

The clip construction, by reason of the resilient characteristics of the material from which it is formed, permits accommodation for proper use in conjunction with table tops of varying thicknesses. As seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawing, the clip is shown in operative position on a table top, as indicated at 21a, of substantially increased thickness, and the clip serves to firmly secure the table cloth 20 onto the table top in substantially the same manner as when the clip is used with a table top of lesser thickness, as indicated in FIGURE 2 of the draw- The clip may, if so desired, be formed with various ornamentation, or may :be finished in various colors, as may be desired, and is capable of being used over and over again without loss of the spring characteristics for firmly securing the cloth to the table. By virtue of its shape and size, the clips may be economically manufactured and conveniently stored when not in use. By reason of the upper leg 11 being substantially flat throughout its length, it provides maximum area of pressure contact for seourement of the table cloth in position on the table top.

In FIGURE 4 of the drawing I have shown an alternative use of the clip embodying the present invention, wherein the clip is utilized for detachably but firmly securing a childs dish 24, such as a paper or metal plate, on top of a table top 21b. In this arrangement the clip is positioned in reverse relation to that seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawing, with the lower leg 12 and terminal portion 16 extending down into the dish, and with the upper leg 11 positioned in contact with the under surface of the table top 21b. By virtue of this arrange- 3 ment the dish is firmly held in position on the top of the table and serves to prevent the dish and food from being tipped over or :being pushed off of the table.

Although I have herein shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, manifestly it is capable of modification without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be under,- stood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiments herein disclosed, except as I may be so. limited by the appended claim.

I claim:

A clip for detachably securing the marginal portion of a flexible sheet of material to the marginal edge of 'a table top, said clip being formed of a strip of resilient flat stock having an upper leg of flat form substantially throughout its length, a lower leg having a main portion of fiat form throughout the major portion of its length and disposed at an acute angle to the upper leg and having a downwardly extending outer portion of substantially straight form and extending away from the upper. leg and joined to said main portion by a rounded portion to provide a relatively small area of pressure contact with the underside of the table top when the clip is positioned thereon, and an intermediate leg of flat form substantially throughout its length and connected at opposite ends to corresponding ends of said upper and lower legs, said intermediate leg extending substantially normal to the upper leg and at an acute angle to the lower leg, the outer free ends of said upper and lower legs being bent in opposite outwardly directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,181 Williams July 18, 1905 1,376,753 Febrey May 3, 1921 1,498,994 Borsuk et al June 24, 1924 1,866,691 Worley et al July 12, 1932 2,003,856 Gimbel June 4, 1935 2,150,497 Fernberg Mar. 14, 1939 2,166,344 Donohue July 18, 1939 2,308,084 Kareff Jan. 12, 194-3 FOREIGN PATENTS 9 626,199 Germany Feb. 21, 1936 

